Extendable and retractable motor vehicle mirror arms

ABSTRACT

Motor vehicle mirror arms can be extended or retracted from the dashboard of the vehicle to a point beyond the width of the motor vehicle to enhance the visibility to the rear. The mirror arms are moved by hydraulic, air, vacuum, or electric means and can be positioned at any desired point from fully retracted to fully extended.

United States Patent [191 Moyer EXTENDABLE AND RETRACTABLE MOTOR VEHICLEMIRROR ARMS [76] inventor: James E. Moyer, 5727 Rio Verde Way, NorthHighlands,.Calif. 95660 v [22] Filed: Mar. 19, 1973 [21] Appl. No.:342,547

[52] US. Cl. 350/289, 74/501 M, 350/307 [51] Int. Cl. G02b 5/08 [58]Field of Search 350/289, 288, 299,, 302, 350/307; 74/50l M [5 6] IReferences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,527,528 9/1970 McKee et al350/289 UX [111 3,820,877 June 28, 1974 3,624,818 ll/l97l Stanfield350/289 Primary ExaminerRonald L. Wibert Assistant Examiner-Michael J.Tokar Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Blair & Brown 57 ABSTRACT Motor vehiclemirror arms can be extended or retracted from the dashboard of thevehicle to a point beyond the width of the motor vehicle to enhance thevisibility to the rear. The mirror arms are moved by hydraulic, air,vacuum, or electric means and can be positioned at any desired pointfrom fully retracted to fully extended.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED 3.820.877

sum 1 0r 2 FIG. .1.

1 EXTEND-ABLE AND RETRACTABLE MOTOR VEHICLE MIRROR ARMS BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates tomotor vehicle rear view mirrors which are adjustably expansible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A motor vehicle rear view mirror system inwhich the mirrors can be extended or retracted at will from thedashboard and can be positioned at any point from fully retracted tofully extended. The extending and retracting mechanism is actuatedhydraulically, by air, by vacuum or by electricity as desired.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a motor vehicle havingextensible and retractable rear view mirrors which can be moved remotelyfrom the dashboard. I

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the followingspecification when considered in the light of the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevationof the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken alongthe. line 3-3 of FIG. I, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of one of the mirrors and itsactuator; and

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken along the line 5-5 ofFIG. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings indetail, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughoutthe several figures, the reference numeral indicates generally acombined motor vehicle and extensible rear view mirror systemconstructed in accordance with the invention.

The system 10 is mounted on a motor vehicle 11 and includes a pair ofhydraulic cylinders l2, 13 secured in axially aligned relation to thefenders 14, 15 of the motor vehicle 11. The hydraulic cylinders 12, 13have their axes generally horizontal and are positioned within thefenders 14, 15 as can be clearly seen in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The hydraulic cylinders l2, 13 each include a reciprocating piston 16and a pair of heads 17, 18 on opposite ends thereof. The head 18 has asquare port 19 extending therethrough with a square piston rod 20slidably mounted therethrough. The piston rod 20 is connected at itsinner end to the piston 16 and has an upstanding arm 21 formed on itsouter end.

A rear view mirror 22 is mounted on each of the arms 21 in a position topermit the driver of the motor vehicle 11 to see to the rear along theside of the vehicle 11.

An electric motor 23 drives a hydraulic pump 24 connected by pipes 25,26 to pipes 27 and 28 respectively. The pipe 27 is coupled to a valve 29and the pipe I 28 is coupled to a valve'30. The valve 29 is coupled by apipe 31 to the inner ends of the cylinders 12, 13 and the valve 30 iscoupled by a pipe 32 to the outer ends of the cylinders l2, 13. Thevalves 29, 30 are actuated by solenoids 33, 34 respectively controlledby suitable pushbuttons (not shown) on the dashboard of the motorvehicle 11.

In the use and operation of the invention the valves 29, 30 are adjustedto permit fluid from the pump 24 to flow to the inner end 17 of thehydraulic cylinders 12, 13. Fluid from the outer end thereof passesthrough the valve 30 back to the pump 24. This causes the pistons 16 tomove outwardly in their respective cylinders 12, 13 to move therespective mirrors 22 outwardly to a desired position of extension. Whenthis point is reached the valves 29, 30 are turned to prevent flow offluid therethrough thus locking the mirrors 22 in their adjustedextended position. When it is desired to move the mirrors 22 inwardlythe motor 23 is reversed to reverse the pump'24 causing the fluid toflow in the opposite directions in the linings 28, 31 to put pressure onthe outer ends of the piston 16 thus moving the mirrors 22 inwardly.

While I have disclosed and described a hydraulic mechanism for actuatingthe mirrors 22 it should be understood that air or vacuum may also beused equally as well. The mirrors 22 may also be electrically actuatedto move them outwardly of the vehicle 11 when desired. r I

The mirrors 22 can be extended to permit rear view past a wide trailerbeing towed behind the motor vehicle 11 and can then be retracted whenthe trailer is no longer in use to prevent the mirrors 22 from strikingother vehicles or mirrors in relatively tight parking spaces.

In some instances the engine oil under pressure may be used to power thepistons instead of using a hydraulic pump.

Having thus described thepreferred embodiment of the invention it shouldbe understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit'of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A combined motor vehicle and an extensible and retractable rear viewmirror system therefore comprising a pair of cylinders mounted on saidmotor vehicle in axially aligned generally horizontal relation, an L-shaped piston rod extending outwardly from each of said cylinders andcarrying a mirror on the outer end thereof, a piston in each of saidcylinders connected to said L-shaped piston rod for moving said L-shapedrod axially on the applicationof pressure to said pistons, and handactuated means on said motor vehicle for controlling the movement ofsaid pistons in said cylinder s to control the extended and retractedposition of said mirrors with respect to said vehicle.

2. A device as claimed in. claim 1 wherein hydraulic means is providedfor moving saidpistons and said hand controlled means forcontrolling'the position of said pistons comprises hydraulic linesextending to said pistons and valves mounted in said line.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pistons are air actuated.

1. A combined motor vehicle and an extensible and retractable rear viewmirror system therefore comprising a pair of cylinders mounted on saidmotor vehicle in axially aligned generally horizontal relation, anL-shaped piston rod extending outwardly from each of said cylinders andcarrying a mirror on the outer end thereof, a piston in each of saidcylinders connected to said L-shaped piston rod for moving said L-shapedrod axially on the application of pressure to said pistons, and handactuated means on said motor vehicle for controlling the movement ofsaid pistons in said cylinders to control the extended and retractedposition of said mirrors with respect to said vehicle.
 2. A device asclaimed in claim 1 wherein hydraulic means is provided for moving saidpistons and said hand controlled means for controlling the position ofsaid pistons comprises hydraulic lines extending to said pistons andvalves mounted in said line.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 1 whereinsaid pistons are air actuated.